Portable Data Terminal

ABSTRACT

A portable data terminal that includes a housing and an environmentally responsive device for collecting data about the environment surrounding the housing. The portable data terminal also includes an encoded information reader unit with one or more data collection hardware devices, which can capture data encoded in decodable indicia, e.g., bar codes. In one embodiment, the portable data terminal is configured to operate in a mode that processes the decodable indicia, and the environmental data so as to correlate the information decoded in the decodable indicia with the environmental data.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is related to devices for decoding decodable indicia, and more particularly, to portable data terminals that correlate environmental data with other data collected by the portable data terminal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Portable data terminals that are equipped with hardware for reading decodable indicia are available in multiple varieties. Many of these are further configured with additional features, functions, and devices, all of which are combined into a single terminal that is operatively configured to collect, transmit, and receive different types of data. For example, there are many portable data terminals that can collect data using bar code scanning and imaging hardware, magnetic stripe reading hardware, and radio frequency identification tag (“RFID”) reading hardware, among many others. While such hardware permits a wide range of configurations and functionality for the portable data terminal, this hardware is often not equipped to collect data and information about the environment in the immediate vicinity of the terminal device. However, this data can be useful, and particularly beneficial if it can be correlated to the data encoded in one or more of the decodable indicia, or other data that is collected and processed by the hardware that is already incorporated into the portable data terminal.

There is therefore a need for a portable data terminal that is configured to measure, collect, and store data about the environment. It is likewise desirable that such a portable data terminal is configured to process the stored data so as to correlate the environmental data with the other data, e.g., a bar code, and/or an image.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

There is provided embodiments of a portable data terminal that comprise an environmental sensing device with a sensing portion exposed to, or with access to the environment in surrounding relation to the portable data terminal device. Such embodiments are configured to operate in a manner so that the device can collect the environmental data, store the environmental data, and correlate the environmental data with other data, such as, for example, data that is stored in decodable indicia, which are decoded by, e.g., a bar code reading device.

For purposes of example only, in one embodiment, a portable data terminal having a housing in surrounding relation to one or more components for reading a decodable indicia, the portable data terminal comprising a memory, a control circuit communicatively coupled to the memory, an encoded information reader unit responsive to a signal from the control circuit, the encoded information reader unit comprising a data collection hardware device selected from one of a bar code reading device, an RFID reading device, and a card reading device, an interface bus communicatively coupled to one or more of the memory, control circuit, and the encoded information reader unit, and an environmentally responsive device coupled to the interface bus, the environmentally responsive device comprising a sensing portion in communication with an environment external to the housing in a manner capturing an environmental reading for the environment.

In another embodiment, a hand held reader for reading data from the environment, the hand held reader comprising a housing comprising an aperture, an environmentally responsive device supportably connected to the housing in a manner exposing a sensing portion to the environment proximate the aperture, the sensing portion providing an environmental reading for the environment, an interface bus communicatively coupled to the sensing portion, a central processing unit coupled to the interface bus, the central processing unit providing a signal for capturing the environmental reading from the sensing portion, an encoded information reader unit coupled to the central processing unit, the encoded information reader unit comprising a data collection hardware device selected from one of a bar code reading device, an RFID reading device, and a card reading device, a memory for storing the environmental reading and data from the data collection hardware device.

In still another embodiment, a data collection system for a portable data terminal having a housing with a form factor in surrounding relation to components of the portable data terminal, the data collection system comprising an interface bus comprising a two-wire interface, a temperature sensor coupled to the two-wire interface, the temperature sensor comprising a sensing portion exposed in a manner providing a temperature reading of an environment external to the housing, a memory for storing the temperature reading, and an encoded information reader unit in communication with the memory, the encoded information reader unit comprising a data collection hardware device selected from one of a bar code reading device, an RFID reading device, and a card reading device, wherein the portable data terminal is operative in a first sensing mode that correlates data from the data collection hardware device, and the temperature reading in response to an operator initiated signal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

So that the manner in which the above recited features of the present invention can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to the embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments. Moreover, the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of certain embodiments of invention.

Thus, for further understanding of the concepts of the invention, reference can be made to the following detailed description, read in connection with the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of one example of a portable data terminal that is made in accordance with concepts of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another example of a portable data terminal that is made in accordance with concepts of the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is a section view of still another example of a portable data terminal that is made in accordance with concepts of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the drawings, in general, and FIGS. 1-3 in particular, there is provided a portable data terminal and implementation thereof, embodiments of which are useful to collect data and information about the environment in surrounding relation to the device, and to correlate that environmental data with other data, e.g., image data, audio data, and data stored in decodable indicia, which are encoded, decoded, and otherwise captured by the portable data terminal. Devices of the type disclosed and described herein are particularly configured so as to interface with the surrounding environment, thus providing a point of access in which to gather the environmental data, e.g., temperature data, humidity data, barometer data, and dew point data. This data is stored in memory so that it is available for further processing, such as, for example, for displaying on a display, performing calculations, graphing, and transmitting, among many other processing paradigms. Such functionality is often included in embodiments of the portable data terminal because these devices are generally equipped with electrical components that are operatively configured for, e.g., imaging, bar code scanning, picture taking, and card reading.

For example, and as will be discussed in more detail below, portable data terminals of the type contemplated herein may include electrical components arranged as integrated circuitry. A portion of which can be located substantially internal to the housing, enclosure, or casement of the device. This internal circuitry may include, but is not limited to, processors, volatile memory, and non-volatile memory, all of which can communicate via one or more integrated busses. All of these elements are integrated together to instantiate system architecture (often imprinted on, and/or connected to a printed circuit board), which is designed to execute instructions, algorithms, and logical operations that instruct the overall functionality of the portable data terminal devices, and in particular embodiments of the data terminal, the functions discussed immediately above.

The methods, instructions, algorithms, and logic operations that are here, and generally conceived to be a sequence of steps or actions leading to a desired result and may be implemented, or enabled by software, and firmware. While it may prove convenient to discuss such software as if it were embodied in a single program, most implementations will distribute the described functions among discrete (and some not so discrete) pieces of software. These pieces are often described using such terms as “programs,” “objects,” “functions,” “subroutines,” “libraries,” “.dlls,” “APIs,” and procedures.” One or more of these may find favor in the present description, although there is not intention to limit the invention or the described embodiments to the recited configurations.

For example, software for use in embodiments of the portable data terminal can include an operating system, such as, but not limited to, WINDOWS CE, WINDOWS MOBIL, WINDOWS XP, LINUX, PALM, SYMBIAN, OSX, and their various versions, improvements, and revisions. Likewise the software and the firmware can include applications, and drivers that have executable instructions compatible with the operating system, and particularly written so that, when executed, the terminal operates in a certain operating mode, or with certain functionality.

With respect to the software described herein, those having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that there exist a variety of platforms and languages for creating software for performing methods outlined herein. Embodiments of the present invention can be implemented using MICROSOFT VISUAL STUDIO, or any number of varieties of C. The choice of the exact platform and language is often dictated by the specifics of the actual system constructed, such that what may work for one type of system may not be efficient on another system. It is also note that the methods disclosed and contemplated herein are not limited to being executed as software on a processor or digital signal processor (“DSP”), but can also be implemented in a hardware processor such as would be implemented with hardware design language (“HDL”) in an application specific integrated circuit (“ASIC”).

By way of non-limiting example, it is seen in FIG. 1 that a high-level, schematic diagram of an example of a portable data terminal 100 is illustrated. Here, it is seen that the portable data terminal 100 can include a housing 102 that encapsulates in surrounding relation an interface bus 104, a control circuit 106 such as may be provided by central processing unit (“CPU”) like a microprocessor integrated circuit chip, a memory 108, a user input interface 110, a user output interface 112, and an encoded information reader unit 114. The portable data terminal 100 can also include an environmentally responsive device 116 that has a sensing portion 118, which as mentioned above is positioned relative to the housing 102 so as to capture environmental data for the environment exterior to the housing 102 of the portable data terminal 100.

The CPU 106 receives data from and outputs data to other sub-systems for storage, transmission, and additional processing. In the present example, the CPU 106 is implemented using any number of off the shelf solutions. These include, but are not limited to, embedded processors, general purpose processors, or any number of custom solutions including pre-configured field programmable gate arrays (“FPGAs”), and ASICs.

The memory 108 can include a read only memory device (“ROM”) 120, and a random access memory device (“RAM”) 122. ROM 118 can be, e.g., an EROM or an EPROM. The memory 108 can also include a storage memory 124 such as a hard drive, and a flash memory device 126, which may be integrated into the portable data terminal 100 as it is illustrated in FIG. 1, or in other embodiments it may be a type of replaceable, removable memory device such as a flash memory card, a USB memory device, and the like.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the memory 108 can retain numerous types of files, including, but not limited to, the operating system files, the application files, the driver files, and configuration files for configuring the portable data terminal 100. Typically ones of the configurations files have executable instructions that are directed to particular hardware, integrated circuitry, and/or components of the portable data terminal 100. These include, for example, radio transceiver devices, card reader devices, and bar code reader devices, examples of which are discussed in more detail below. In one embodiment, the configuration files can be retrieved from the portable data terminal 100 by a host computer (not shown) that communicates with the terminal 100 via a docking station (not shown), or remotely via wireless communication technology. While not necessary to the general construction and operation of devices of the type consistent with the embodiments of the portable data terminal 100, the host computer is useful to modify, update, and otherwise change the configuration of the portable data terminal 100. For example, it may be useful to retrieve certain ones of the configuration files from the terminal 100, edit the files at the host computer, and then transfer the edited files back to the terminal 100.

The user input interface 110 can include a pointer controller 128, a keyboard 130, a touch panel 132, and a trigger 134. Exemplary devices that can be used for devices of the user input interface 110 are generally discussed immediately below. Each of these is implemented as part of, and often integrated into the housing 102 so as to permit an operator to input one or more operator initiated commands. These commands may specify, and/or activate certain functions of the portable data terminal 100. They may also initiate certain ones of the applications, drivers, and other executable instructions so as to cause the portable data terminal 100 to operate in an operating mode.

Devices that are used for the point controller 128 are generally configured so as to translate the operator initiated command into motion of a virtual pointer provided by a graphical user interface (“GUI”) of the operating system of the portable terminal 100. It can include devices such as a thumbwheel, a roller ball, and a touch pad. In some other configurations, the devices may also include a mouse, or other auxiliary device that is connected, e.g., via wire, or wireless communication technology, to the portable data terminal 100.

Implementation of the keyboard 130 can be provided using one or more buttons, which are presented to the operator on the housing 102. The touch panel 132 may supplement, or replace the buttons of the keyboard 130. For example, one of the GUIs of the operating system may be configured to provide one or more virtual icons for display on, e.g., a display 136, or as part of another display device on, or connected to the portable data terminal 100. Such virtual icons (e.g., buttons, and slide bars) are configured so that the operator can select them, e.g., by pressing or selecting the virtual icon with a stylus (not shown) or a finger (not shown).

The virtual icons can also be used to implement the trigger 134. On the other hand, other devices for use as the trigger 134 may be supported within, or as part of the housing 102. These include, but are not limited to, a button, a switch, or a similar type of actionable hardware that can be incorporated into the embodiments of the portable data terminal 100. These can be used to activate one or more of the devices of the portable data terminal, such as the bar code reader discussed below.

The user output interface 112 can include the display 136, and an audio device 138. Displays of the type suited for use on the portable data terminal 100 are generally configured to display images, data, and GUIs associated with the operating system and/or software (and related applications) of the portable data terminal 100. The displays can include, but are not limited to, LCD displays, plasma displays, LED displays, among many others and combinations thereof. Although preferred construction of the portable data terminal 100 will include devices that display data (e.g., images, and text) in color, the display that is selected for the display 136 may also display this data in monochrome (e.g., black and white). It may also be desirable that the display 136 is configured to display the GUI, and in particular configurations of the portable data terminal 100 that display 136 may have an associated interactive overlay, like a touch screen overlay. This permits the display 136 to be used as part the GUI so as to permit the operator to interact with the virtual icons, the buttons, and other implements of the GUI to initiate the operator initiated commands, e.g., by pressing on the display 136 with the stylus (not shown) or finger (not shown).

The audio device 138 permits the portable data terminal 100 be used to gather, receive, transmit, and convey acoustic signals, e.g., voice, audio, and sounds. Although not provided explicitly in the figures illustrated and described herein, the audio device 138 may include receiving and conveying portions. For example, the receiving and conveying portions may be similar to, respectively, a microphone and a speaker found on telephonic devices, e.g., cellular telephones.

The housing 102 can be constructed so that it has a form, or “form factor” that can accommodate some, or all of the hardware and devices mentioned above, and discussed below. The form factor defines the overall configuration of the housing 102. Suitable form factors that can be used for the housing 102 include, but are not limited to, cell phones, mobile telephones, personal digital assistants (“PDA”), as well as other form factors that are sized and shaped to be held, cradled, and supported by the operator, e.g., in the operator's hand(s). One exemplary form factor is illustrated in the embodiment of the portable data terminal 200 discussed in connection with FIG. 2 below.

The encoded information reader unit 114 can include data collection hardware 140, which can include, but is not limited to, one or more of a bar code reader device 142, an RFID reader device 144, and a card reader device 146. The bar code reader device 142 may be provided by, e.g., an IT4XX/5XX Imaging Module of the type available from Hand Held Products, Inc. of Skaneateles Falls, N.Y. The IT4XX/5XX Imaging Module is configured with integrated circuitry to capture image data, which can be translated into visual image data by compatible circuitry and processors contemplated herein. The IT4XX/5XX Imaging Module is also configured with decode out circuitry that provides decoding of a plurality of different types of bar code symbols and other decodable symbols such as PDF 417, Micro PDF 417, Maxicode, Data Matrix, QR Code, Aztec, Aztec Mesa, Code 49, UCC Composite, Snowflake, Data Gliffs, Code 39, Code 128, Codabar, UPC, EAN, Interleave 205, RSS, Code 93, Codablock, BC412, Postnet, Planet Code, BPO Forcedate, Canadian Forcedate, Japanese Post, KIX(Dutch Post), OCR A and OCR B.

The RFID reader device 144 is of the type that can wirelessly interact with RFID transponders, and RFID tags that are compatible with the selected reader device. Exemplary ones of the RFID transponders, and RFID tag, can communicate with the RFID reader device 144 as a passive device (limited functionality), and active device (broader functionality). They are generally recognized, and so their functionality is not discussed in detail herein. An example of a suitable device for use as the RFID reader device 144 is provided by a Skyetek SkyeModule series reader and card reader from SkyeTek of Westminster, Colo.

Suitable card reader devices of type used as the card reader 146 can have reading and/or writing functionality. This includes, for example, devices compatible with information retrieved from (or encoded in) financial transaction cards, e.g., credit cards, debit cards, gift cards, electronic benefit cards, customer loyalty cards, and the like. It also includes other cards, like, for example, integrated circuit cards that are used as “tokens” for security applications, or as a tool for use in reconfiguring the data collection tool 100. Other suitable devices for the card reader 146 may include an integrated circuit card (IC CARD) reader device (not shown), otherwise known as a smart card reader device.

In one embodiment, the portable data terminal 100 may also include a radio communication interface device unit 148. This may include one or more radio transceiver devices 150, such as an IEEE 802.11 radio transceiver device 152, a Bluetooth radio transceiver device 154, a WIMAX radio transceiver device 156, and a cellular radio transceiver device 158 compatible with, e.g., GSM and CDMA protocols. Other examples of devices include, for example, global positioning system (“GPS”) devices, and similar devices that can provide geo-positional, positional, and location information.

Still other embodiments of the portable data terminal 100 may include a serial input/output interface 160, and a power distribution circuit 162 that receives power from a variety of different power sources including a serial power source 164 (e.g., a USB cable), an AC/DC power supply 166, and a rechargeable battery 168.

An example of the interface bus 104 is a two-wire interface 170 that supports and which can transmit commands to a plurality of integrated circuits, e.g., the environmentally responsive device 116. Each of the integrated circuits can be assigned a different two-wire interface address so that commands and/or parameter data that is intended for a specific integrated circuit can be sent to that specified integrated circuit. These commands may originate from the operator as the operator initiated command, mentioned above, and also internally as commands and instructions that are part of, and/or incorporated into the firmware, software, and other executable instructions of the portable data terminal 100.

In the present example, the two-wire interface 170 includes a signal line 172, or SDA line, and a clocking signal line 174, or SCL line. Each of which are used, respectively, to transmit data (via signal line 172) and to transmit a clock signal (via the clocking signal line 174). In one example, each of the signal line 172 and the clocking signal line 174 are configured in accordance with a PHILLIPS I²C bus. While the details of the I²C bus will not be discussed in detail herein, it is contemplated that in the interface bus 104 of the present example, the signal line 172 can carry address information commands, such as, for example, read and write commands to addressable registers that are internal to I²C compatible hardware.

Exemplary devices that are used for the environmentally responsive device 116 are responsive to one or more environmental factors, such as, for example, temperature, humidity, barometric pressure, and other factors typical of the environment about the housing 102 of the portable data terminal 100. The type and configuration of the environmentally responsive device 116 may be selected so that it can be coupled to the interface bus 104. Generally such devices can be incorporated with the housing 102, as, for example, an integral (and/or monolithic) part of the housing 102.

In other embodiments of the portable data terminal 100, it is also contemplated that the housing 102 can include a port, and/or a connector (hereinafter, “a serial bus connector”) that is included with the housing 102, incorporated into the housing 102, or otherwise disposed on the housing 102 so as to provide a removable, detachable interface that can receive the environmentally responsive device 116. This can include, for example, modules that include all or part of the device 116, which can be interchanged onto the device so as to provide one or more of the functional responses to the environmental factors discussed immediately above. In one example, the bus serial bus connector is coupled to the interface bus 104 (e.g., via cabling, and wiring) so as to permit the interchangeable module to communicate with the interface bus 104.

Certain ones of the device 116 that are used may be compatible with the two-wire interface 170, and in one construction of the portable data terminal 100 the device 116 is compatible with the PHILLIPS I²C bus. In one embodiment of the portable data terminal 100, the sensing device 118 is a temperature sensing device, which measures the temperature of the environment around the portable data terminal 100. An example of a temperature sensing device is the TI TMP75 Digital Temperature Sensor with Two-Wire Interface, manufactured and sold by Texas Instruments Incorporated of Dallas, Tex.

In view of the foregoing, various embodiments of the portable data terminal 100 may be a hand held device, such as data terminal 100, PDAs, or other platform that have data collection hardware 140 with capabilities to capture and read images, some of which may have decodable indicia provided therein. PDAs are typically defined as hand held devices (or readers) that are used as a personal organizer, having many uses such as reading information bearing the indicia, calculating, use as a clock and calendar, playing computer games, accessing the Internet, sending and receiving electronic messages, facilitating telephonic voice communications, use as a radio or stereo, video recording, recording notes, use as an address book, and use as a spreadsheet. A plurality of buttons and keys may be used to control the operation of the PDA. This includes the buttons discussed in connection with the keyboard 130, and the display 136, as well as other buttons not necessarily discussed, but that are consistent with the functions, the capabilities, the control, and the operation of the portable data terminal 100 overall, and the data collection hardware 140 in particular.

The portable data terminal 100, like the PDA, may be equipped with the ability to query and receive and transmit data, such as firmware via a communication link. This may be done by radio link or wired link. Upgrading firmware from a host, e.g., the host computer described above, to the PDA (also referred to as uploading or pushing) and duplicating configuration parameters may be performed by reading specific decodable indicia to ensure that the portable data terminal 100 is operating at the proper revision and have the proper configuration parameters.

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of an example of a portable data terminal 200 that is constructed in accordance with concepts of the present invention. Here, like numerals are used to indicate like components of FIG. 1, except these numerals have been increased by 100. Moreover, because the example that is illustrated has a fully integrated housing 202, some of the features of the internal circuitry discussed in connection with FIG. 1 have been removed for clarity. In this connection, it is seen that in addition to the housing 202, the portable data terminal 200 can include a user input interface 210 with a pointer controller 228, and a keyboard 230, a user output interface 212 that has a display 236 and an audio device 238, and an environmentally responsive device 216 with a sensing portion 218.

It is also seen that the housing 202 can include a front surface 276, side surfaces 278, and a back surface 280, which is located on the side of the housing 202 that is opposite the front surface 276. The front surface 276 has an aperture 282 where the sensing portion 218 is positioned so as to have access to the environment surrounding the housing 202. This is, however, only one exemplary configuration of the location of the aperture 282. It can be located in different locations in other embodiments of the portable data terminal 200. That is, the aperture 282 can be located anywhere on the housing 202 in order to accommodate the sensing portion 218, and to provide suitable access for the sensing portion 218 so that it can capture the environmental data from the environment.

More particularly, and with reference now to the section view of the example of a portable data terminal 300 that is illustrated in FIG. 3, it is seen that the portable data terminal 300 has a housing 302 that incorporates an environmentally responsive device 316 with a sensing portion 318, where the housing 302 has a front surface 376 with an aperture 382 that is sized and configured to receive the sensing portion 318. The portable data terminal 300 also includes circuit boards 384, and a cable 386 that couples the sensing device 316 to the circuit boards 384. The portable data terminal 300 further includes a mechanical interface 388, and a protective cap 390 that is disposed over the sensing portion 318 in the present example of the portable data terminal 300.

The circuit boards 384 are generally constructed as printed circuit boards that include one or more of the devices, components, and assemblies discussed in connection with the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1. That is, the integrated circuitry and other architecture that is needed to permit the portable data terminal 300 to perform its various functions is constructed as part of one or more of the circuit boards 384. This include the interface bus 104 (FIG. 1), and more particularly the two-wire interface 170 (FIG. 1).

The cable 386 is likewise configured to permit communication of the sensing portion 318 with the circuit boards 384 so that the portable data terminal 300 can collect the environmental data. Typical cables that are used as the cable 386 are constructed so that they can couple the environmentally responsive device 316 to the interface bus 104 (FIG. 1). For example, when coupling with the two-wire interface 170 (FIG. 1), the cable 386 may include a data line (not shown) and a clock line (not shown). These connect, respectively, to the signal line 172 (FIG. 1) and the clocking signal line 174 (FIG. 1) of the two wire interface 170 (FIG. 1). The cable 386 can also include other lines, e.g., power lines, and ground lines, that are selected based on, for example, the type of sensing apparatus that is used at the sensing portion 318 of the environmentally responsive device 316.

By way of non-limiting example, and as it is illustrated in FIG. 3, the aperture 382, the mechanical interface 388, and the protective cap 390 are configured in a manner that permits the sensing portion 318 to be exposed to the environment surrounding the housing 302. For example, the mechanical interface 388 positions the sensing portion 318 relative to the aperture 382 so that the sensing portion 318 extends out of the housing 302. Exemplary mechanical interfaces can include multiple pieced assembles with portions that can receive and secure the sensing portion 318 such as, for example, via mechanical fasteners, adhesives, and snap-type fittings. These may be incorporated integrally as part of the housing 302, or as separate pieces parts that are assembled and attached to the housing 302.

The protective cap 390 is typically configured to protect the sensing portion 318, as well as to seal the open portion of the housing 302 at the aperture 382. It may be desirable that it is constructed of materials that are resistant to damage, such as may occur by dropping, crushing, or attempting to puncture the protective cap 390. Preferably, the materials of construction are also selected so as to promote, or facilitate the data collection that occurs via the sensing portion 318. For example, if the sensing portion is designed to sense temperature of the environment, then the material for the protective cap 390 may have certain thermal properties that are conducive to transferring thermal energy from the environment to the sensing portion 318.

As discussed above, the embodiments of the portable data terminals 100, 200, 300 are operative in a plurality of operating modes, which can be activated by the operator via the operator initiated instruction. Generally the operating modes comprise modes that capture environmental data, and information from the data collection hardware, as well as other data and information, e.g., time, date, and location. For example, the operating modes may include a mode for collecting environmental data, and storing the environmental data in the memory in response to the decoding of the decodable indicia. Decoding is a term used to describe the interpretation of the decodable indicia by, e.g., the bar code reader. Information respecting the various reference decode algorithms is available from various publication standards, such as by the International Organization (“ISO”).

The operating modes may also include a mode for collecting environmental data, where the environmental data is captured at one or more configurable time periods, with or without being initiated by the operator initiated command. This measured data may be stored in memory. It can also be retrieved from the memory so that it can be displayed on the display as a graph, in a spreadsheet, or other display method consistent with the concepts disclosed herein. In one embodiment of the portable data terminal 100, the operating modes include a mode where the environmental data is measured continuously such as, for example, when the configurable time period is substantially zero. Here, the measured data can be stored in memory, and/or displayed on the display of the portable data terminal as a part of, or incorporated into one of the GUIs of the operating system.

Still another operating mode may permit the portable data terminal to correlate the environmental data with the information that is decoded from the decodable indicia. For example, and discussing an implementation of the portable data terminal in, e.g., a warehousing environment, a operator initiate scanning of a bar code of a product via the operator initiated command (e.g., by pressing a button), and record data about the environment in the warehouse at a time contemporaneously with bar code scan. The portable data terminal can store the information from the bar code, the environmental data in a file in the memory. This file may have both the information and the environmental data in e.g., a correlated format. In some embodiments, the information from the bar code, and the environmental data may be stored in separate files, with the portable data terminal being operatively configured to access, and correlate, the information and the environmental data from the separate files. In still other embodiments, the portable data terminal may also record the time of the scan, the location of the scan (e.g., via GPS), and store this additional information along with, and/or correlated to, the bar code and environmental data. Examples of other operating modes and functionality as it relates to the environmentally responsive device are further disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2008/0185432, filed as U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/669,987, on Feb. 1, 2007 by Caballero et al., and assigned to Hand Held Products, Inc. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2008/0185432 is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

It is contemplated that numerical values, as well as other values that are recited herein are modified by the term “about”, whether expressly stated or inherently derived by the discussion of the present disclosure. As used herein, the term “about” defines the numerical boundaries of the modified values so as to include, but not be limited to, tolerances and values up to, and including the numerical value so modified. That is, numerical values can include the actual value that is expressly stated, as well as other values that are, or can be, the decimal, fractional, or other multiple of the actual value indicated, and/or described in the disclosure.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to certain exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by one skilled in the art that various changes in detail may be effected therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by claims that can be supported by the written description and drawings. Further, where exemplary embodiments are described with reference to a certain number of elements it will be understood that the exemplary embodiments can be practiced utilizing either less than or more than the certain number of elements. 

1. A portable data terminal having a housing in surrounding relation to one or more components for reading a decodable indicia, said portable data terminal comprising: a memory; a control circuit communicatively coupled to the memory; an encoded information reader unit responsive to a signal from the control circuit, the encoded information reader unit comprising a data collection hardware device selected from one of a bar code reading device, an RFID reading device, and a card reading device; an interface bus communicatively coupled to one or more of the memory, the control circuit, and the encoded information reader unit; and an environmentally responsive device coupled to the interface bus, the environmentally responsive device comprising a sensing portion in communication with an environment external to the housing in a manner capturing an environmental reading for the environment.
 2. A portable data terminal according to claim 1, wherein the sensing portion comprises a temperature sensor exposed to the environment.
 3. A portable data terminal according to claim 2, wherein the housing is configured with an aperture for exposing the temperature sensor to the environment.
 4. A portable data terminal according to claim 3, further comprising a protective cap disposed on the housing in a manner covering at least a portion of the temperature sensor, wherein the protective cap comprises a thermally conductive material.
 5. A portable data terminal according to claim 1, wherein the terminal is operative in a first sensing mode in which the terminal captures the environmental reading in response to an operator initiated command.
 6. A portable data terminal according to claim 5, further comprising a display for displaying the environmental data; and a button for receiving the operator initiated command.
 7. A portable data terminal according to claim 1, wherein the terminal is further operative in a second sensing mode in which the terminal captures a plurality of the environmental readings, the environmental readings comprise a first environmental reading and a second environmental reading that occurs at a configurable time period away from the first environmental reading.
 8. A portable data terminal according to claim 7, wherein the terminal still further operative to correlate the environmental readings with a time at which the terminal captures the environmental reading.
 9. A hand held reader for reading data from the environment, said hand held reader comprising: a housing comprising an aperture; an environmentally responsive device supportably connected to the housing in a manner exposing a sensing portion to the environment proximate the aperture, the sensing portion providing an environmental reading for the environment; an interface bus communicatively coupled to the sensing portion; a central processing unit coupled to the interface bus, the central processing unit providing a signal for capturing the environmental reading from the sensing portion; an encoded information reader unit coupled to the central processing unit, the encoded information reader unit comprising a data collection hardware device selected from one of a bar code reading device, an RFID reading device, and a card reading device; and a memory for storing the environmental reading and data from the data collection hardware device.
 10. A hand held reader according to claim 9, wherein the interface bus comprises a two-wire interface.
 11. A hand held reader according to claim 10, further comprising a cable comprising a first wire and a second wire, each of the first wire and the second wire connecting the sensing portion with the two-wire interface.
 12. A hand held reader according to claim 11, further comprising a protective cap disposed on the housing in a manner covering at least a portion of the sensing portion.
 13. A hand held reader according to claim 12, further comprising: a user input interface comprising an input device permitting a user to select one of the plurality of modes; and a user output interface comprising an output device communicating the environmental reading to the user.
 14. A hand held reader according to claim 9, wherein the sensing portion operates in a plurality of modes comprising a first sensing mode that captures the environmental reading at a first configurable time and a second configurable time that is different from the first configurable time.
 15. A hand held reader according to claim 14, wherein the first configurable time is separated from the second configurable time by a configurable time period.
 16. A hand held reader according to claim 15, wherein the plurality of modes comprise a second sensing mode in which the terminal captures a plurality of the environmental readings, the environmental readings comprise a first environmental reading and a second environmental reading that occurs at the configurable time period away from the first environmental reading.
 17. A hand held reader according to claim 14, wherein the plurality of modes comprise a third mode in which the terminal activates the data collection hardware device to decode a decodable indicia, and captures the environmental reading at substantially the same time.
 18. A data collection system for a portable data terminal having a housing with a form factor in surrounding relation to components of the portable data terminal, said data collection system comprising: an interface bus comprising a two-wire interface; a temperature sensor coupled to the two-wire interface, the temperature sensor comprising a sensing portion exposed in a manner providing a temperature reading of an environment external to the housing; a memory for storing the temperature reading; and an encoded information reader unit in communication with the memory, the encoded information reader unit comprising a data collection hardware device selected from one of a bar code reading device, an RFID reading device, and a card reading device, wherein the portable data terminal is operative in a first sensing mode that correlates data from the data collection hardware device, and the temperature reading in response to an operator initiated signal.
 19. The data collection system according to claim 18, wherein the terminal is further operative in a second sensing mode in which the terminal captures a plurality of the environmental readings, the environmental readings comprise a first environmental reading and a second environmental reading that occurs at a configurable time period away from the first environmental reading.
 20. The data collection system according to claim 19, wherein the terminal is still further operative to correlate the environmental readings with a time at which the terminal captures the environmental reading. 